Photo via Yahoo Sports

2026 Houston Astros Season in Review

The Houston Astros secured their sixth American League West title in nine years with a dramatic late-season surge, finishing the 2026 campaign atop the division at 81-81. After a sluggish start that left them at 20-31 through the first half, the team rallied with a .550 record over their final 110 games, clinching the division on the final day of the regular season with a 4-2 road streak.

This marked their 14th postseason appearance as a division winner and the 19th in franchise history, extending their status as one of MLB’s most consistent postseason teams since 2015, alongside the Dodgers and Yankees. However, their postseason run ended swiftly in the Wild Card Series, where they were swept by the Chicago White Sox in two games despite out-hitting them 4-2, including home runs from Jeremy Peña and José Altuve.

Manager Joe Espada, now in his third season, guided the Astros to their second playoff berth in three years, compiling a 256-229 regular-season record and ranking ninth in team history for managerial wins. The Astros’ bullpen provided key support in the postseason, with standout performances from Miguel Ullola and Peter Lambert in relief roles.

Up nextMLB· 4h ago

Houston Astros part ways with manager Joe Espada